Scorers: Adams (11), McAllister (70), Dorrans (74), Gilmour (82) SCOTLAND Under-20s coasted to an impressive victory over the Northern Ireland Under-21 side last night, their final warm-up game before travelling to Canada next month for the FIFA Youth World Cup. Archie Gemmill and Tommy Wilson's squad were missing six key men, including Alan Lowing of Rangers and Hibs' Steven Fletcher, but still produced a comprehensive display to complete their preparations for the summer showpiece.
A Jamie Adams header, and second-half strikes from substitutes Rory McAllister, Graham Dorrans and Brian Gilmour did the damage against the older Northern Irish outfit.
The young Scots now have a couple of weeks off before they reconvene for their Canadian odyssey. Pasta and plenty of rest (rather than a fortnight in Magaluf) will be the order of the day in the meantime, before they approach the challenge of negotiating a group stage which includes Japan, Nigeria and Costa Rica.
Scotland started with intent and almost opened the scoring after 90 seconds. Lee Wallace slalomed through challenges as he cut a swathe down the left flank and hit the byeline. He cut it back for Ross Campbell whose right-foot shot slipped past the far post as Calum Elliot tried to direct it in.
Daryl Fordyce flashed a header wide soon after for the visitors, but Scotland opened the scoring when Ryan Conroy delivered a corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Adams rose highest to glance a header past Jonny Tuffey, the Northern Ireland and Partick Thistle goalkeeper, and into the net.
Campbell was a lively presence in attack for the Scots and almost capitalised on some hesitation between Kyle McVey and Chris Casement. The Hibs striker bore down on goal and thumped a powerful drive against Tuffey's legs as the ball bounced to safety.
McAllister and Dorrans replaced Andy Considine and Elliot at half-time, but Northern Ireland started the second half better, with McVey's header and Rory McArdle's overhead kick both flashing wide.
Robert Snodgrass, who had replaced Campbell by that stage, went close at the other end after opting to try and chip the keeper, but two more substitutes combined to score Scotland's second moments later.
Gilmour flashed a cross across the congested penalty box and McAllister adjusted his footing to scoop the ball into the roof of the net.
Adams combined well with Snodgrass soon after, who curled a shot just wide of the post.
Dorrans added a third for the Scots 15 minutes from the end when he cut in from the left and smashed a powerful drive past Trevor Carson, Northern Ireland's substitute goalkeeper. Carson must have wished he had been left to warm the bench when he was called upon to pick the ball out of the net for the third time with eight minutes left. Scotland (4-4-2) McNeil; Lynch, Considine (McAllister 45), Cuthbert, Wallace; Conroy (Gilmour 65), Reynolds, Adams, McGlinchey (Sutherland 71); Campbell (Snodgrass 59), Elliot (Dorrans 45) Northern Ireland (4-4-2) Tuffey (Carson 65); Callaghan, McArdle, Casement, McVey; Doherty (McCaffrey 45), Garrett, Mulgrew (Donnelly 58), Buchanan (McAllister 45); Fordyce (Turner 45), Stewart Booked Donnelly Referee W Collum Attendance 360
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